ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

I turned on my t.v. and it happened to be on ESPN2. I try to avoid First Take but I saw DeMaurice Smith being interviewed by those two knuckleheads. Not a bad interview but toward the end of the interview, Smith made it apparent that the NFL screwed the fans of the New Orleans Saints.
He also said that Sean Payton was unfairly punished. This is stuff we know but it's good to hear someone as important as Smith state it so clearly.

He also said that he has read every transcript and said that he has no problem with the NFL releasing every the transcript. Even Smith referred to the "NFL PR Machine.":pissed:


Edit: This video does not show the end of the interview. I'll look for it.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

Damage has already been done. NOTHING can ever give us back our season.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

It was worth hearing DeMaurice Smith acknowledge the affect on the fans but that's in the last 10 or 15 seconds of the interview.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

Five seconds would be fine for me. I just wanted to hear it.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

At this point in time, all I want is our second round pick back.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

For someone as important as D. Smith to say that unequivocally, the NFL messed this whole "bounty" issue up, you'd like to believe that the NFL would do the right thing by returning the 2012 2nd round pick and, at the very least, give the Saints an additional 2nd round pick. WITH a Roger Goodell public apology and admitting that he screwed up.

As all of us know, this wont happen. It speaks volumes about the character of Goodell and the league office.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

I think, in the end, not this year but probably next and down the line, the Saints will get compensatory picks. If you watch the draft, the commish gives away compensatory picks back to teams whose players were suspended rightly or wrongly, but usually not immediately. This year one team got a compensatory 2nd round and a 3rd from the commish for something that happened during the previous regime.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

I don't think Roger is going to give an inch, much less a draft pick, because he's butt hurt over this whole thing and he is just that big of an ass.

I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

I don't expect anyone who had to recuse himself from the final hearing because of his clear bias to give in and give this us anything back.

The fact that he was clearly shown and told by the guy that used to do his job that he was being a vindictive a**hole the entire time....while still saving his a** in future court proceedings (although....that might backfire as well if the Judge allows discovery). And he STILL feels that the Saints should be punished to the maximum degree of the law that exists only inside the mind of a egomaniacal tyrant..........makes me highly doubt that he has gonna give us anything back willingly...

Smith represents the nflpa so him saying that the fans were hurt is not a big deal to me. Now if Greg Aiello came out and said the same thing, that would be significant, but that will never happen.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

It's big for me. He doesn't represent Payton or the Saints as a team but acknowledged that not only were the players hosed, the coaches and the organization were as well.

He has seen all of the evidence. None of the documentation has been, and will probably never be, available to the public because it will show the obvious flaws in what the NFL has done to the Saints.

The NFL should be forced to produce it's proof.

Hey I'm with you - anything positive directed towards the Saints regarding this issue is good. But although he doesnt represent Payton or the Saints carte blanche, the NFLPA had already stated that they didn't approve of Goodell's harsh sanctions and punishments, so I'm not surprised that Smith came out and said this. I'd prefer something similar to be said by the NFL, but like I said, that'll never happen until maybe Goodell is gone.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

Bite me Roger! I know that you are too big of an egotistical arse hole to do the right thing. I hope that when you die you are alone and wishing you had done things differently.
I don't want him dead now..........I want him to have to stick around while he gets picked apart.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

No, not dead yet, but maybe he can get some painful fungus that will rot away his manhood.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

I like the fact that people are saying the coaches were wronged. But again the damage has already been done. People that don't even watch football were calling the Saints cheaters...
New England are cheaters...
Alledged Bounty Programs are just dirty
Pay for performance Salary cap issues
See the difference?
I didn't like the headlines I've seen about how we had to cheat to win and thats simply not the case. The damage done can NEVER be fixed. Roger Goodell job won't even help but it's a start.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

The more Goodell is held accountable for the damage done to the Saints the better for us. Although nothing can replace the opportunity missed with the saints and a superbowl in the Dome this year.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

" Damage has already been done. NOTHING can ever give us back our season."

Fire Goodell.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

As much as I'd like and want that to happen it still doesn't give us back our season. Bottom line is we can never be fully compensated for this past year.

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

IceShack! Where you beeeaen?!?

Watched your video and didn't hear anything 'bout the Saints...

Don't tell me this was some cruel joke to put me through 7 minutes of Skippy, Steven A$$hole and D-Smith for nothing?!?

Re: ESPN's First Take 01-08-12
 

Happy New Year!
alexonfyre pointed out, and I agree:
Perhaps if ESPN didn't broadcast NFL games we'd get to see the whole interview. There was less than a half minute left of that interview and the host of the show was quick to thank Smith and go to commercials.

Sorry for the false advertizing. I tried to warn everyone that I couldn't find the rest of the interview.